Celebrating Clubs and Valuing Volunteers
THE IRISH NEWS unveiled the winners of their highly contested Irish News School Club & Volunteer Awards for 2017.
The Awards initiative, now in its 15th year recognises and rewards GAA Schools, Clubs and Volunteers throughout Ulster for their commitment to Gaelic games and their community irrespective of their playing ability.
The Awards this year were revamped to recognise the work that Clubs are doing in the areas of Club Engagement, Underage Development, Coaching, Irish Language, Health Fitness and Wellbeing.
Representing O’Neills as one of the headline sponsors, was Managing Director Kieran Kennedy. In his remarks Kieran commended clubs on the exceptional role they fulfil in the GAA: “In my experience one of the first things that happens when you meet someone from any GAA club in the country, is that they start to tell you stories about their Club. Some of the initiatives and ideas that clubs come up with are superlative.
“At O’Neills we know from decades of involvement with clubs that their role is at the heart of the community and fundamental to games development and promotion. And to fostering our Irish language and Irish culture.”
The guest of honour at the Awards was Sigerson Cup winning coach of St Mary’s Paddy Tally, and congratulating Paddy on the success, Kieran Kennedy said:
“As a fellow Tyrone man, I must congratulate Paddy again on the magnificent success of the Ranch in winning the Sigerson Cup earlier in the year.
Their success shows us that with organisation, perseverance, a positive attitude, the right people and good management, anything is possible. It is a lesson for every team in every school, every club and indeed every business."
Speaking at the event Noel Doran, editor of The Irish News, congratulated all the clubs, schools and volunteers that received awards adding that ‘The Irish News Club & Volunteer awards are tangible proof that our clubs, our volunteers & our schools are indeed the foundation of the GAA.’
AWARD WINNERS
Post Primary
St Joseph’s Boy School Derry
Primary School of the Year
Millennium IPS
Irish Language
Killeevan Sarsfields GAA, Monaghan
Underage Initiative
Killinkere GFC Cavan
Coaching Initiative
Saint Mary’s High School Limavady
Health Fitness WellBeing
All Saints GAC, Ballymena
Overseas Club
Irish Sports & Social Club Vancouver
Young Volunteer
Clonduff GAA - Sarah Bloomfield
Volunteer of the Year
Clan Na Gael Lurgan - Breige Moore
Loughinisland GAC - Vincent McGlew
St Brigids GAC, Belfast - Frank McGurk
Glenullin GAC - Gerard O'Kane
Club Engagement of the Year
Ballinderry Shamrocks GAC
